Understand that Preston Cole is not the political appointee of the past. He has natural resources credentials with a degree in forest management, and he worked for the Missouri Conservation Department. He has served on the Natural Resources Board for 12 years, where he gained a good understanding of the DNR, and has seen its warts.

Early comments hint that JCRAR members might do just that when Wisconsin Legislature reviews new CWD rules during Oct. 1 hearing. And if they kill the CWD rules, short-term politics will again trump long-term science.

With the opening of the bow deer season in September, hunters who want to have their deer tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD) but don’t have a close-by sampling location may consider a mail-in possibility. Besides collection of tissue samples established by the DNR, hunters may also have a deer tested for CWD at the UW-Madison Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. Hunters must…

Hunters will see several changes in the state’s 2018 Canada goose season. (Photo by Tim Eisele)Wisconsin waterfowl hunters will see some major changes in the 2018 seasons. The Natural Resources Board approved the seasons that include: A uniform statewide opening of the duck hunting season on Saturday, Sept. 29. Elimination of the Horicon goose zone. A Canada goose season in…

Kurt Thiede resigned to work for Cathy Stepp as her chief of staff at the EPA in Chicago. (Photo by Tim Eisele)Here we go again. When politicians play games with the DNR, we end up with agency leaders who do not have the mix of leadership skills, natural resource backgrounds, or natural resource management experience that Wisconsin sportsmen have seen…

A subject of some concern for some hunters is the early teal season.Waterfowl hunters have the opportunity to provide their input on the 2018 duck and goose seasons at four public hearings around the state. Taylor Finger, DNR waterfowl ecologist, will be presenting information on the 2017 waterfowl hunting season, results from the 2017 survey of 2,700 Wisconsin waterfowl hunters,…